IMG_5193 By the time I noticed there was a birdhouse gourd growing in the foundation shrubs by our kitchen door it was already too big to move. I decided to let it grow and see what happened.

What happened was, it grew gourds.

There are three of them that I can see. I have a sneaking suspicion there is a fourth hidden somewhere among the dwarf nandinas. I’ve looked for it and it’s probably not there, but I still hope it is and that it’s the granddaddy of them all, and that we will gasp with amazement when it finally reveals itself.

I love most volunteer plants, and I think this is my favorite of them all so far, particularly since the gourds in the garden were killed by squash bugs.

An unexpected reprieve, a surprise.

Right at my doorstep.

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BREAKING NEWS: I found the fourth gourd!!! It really does exist! And it’s a big ‘un! (Now hoping for a hidden fifth!)